Medicinal Plants Nursery Stock

Bloodroot - Sanguinaria Canadensis

One of the earliest wildflowers to announce the arrival of spring, is a member of the poppy family. Each plant bears a single waxy, white flower with 8 to 12 white petals surrounding a bright yellow center. Like many spring flowers, it closes at night and even stays closed on especially gloomy days. Bloodroot grows best in sheltered woodland conditions, with bright sun in the early spring and shade when the leaves come out on the hardwood trees. True to its name, bloodroot has a bright red root that produces a red juice that was used by Native Americans as a dye and war paint. Bloodroot produces an alkaloid substance sanguinarine, which is used commercially todayas a plaque-inhibiting agent in some toothpastes and mouthwashes. Poisonous, not recommended for ingestion.  

Black Cohosh - Cimiafuga Racemosa

This excellent specimen plant is equally at home in the perennial garden as it is in its natural shaded forest habitat. It is also one of the easiest-to-cultivate eastern forest medicinal roots. Black Cohosh is a handsome woodland wildflower with its tall spikes of brilliant, fragrant white flowers, it is sure to attract attention. The root of Black Cohosh was historically used by Native Americans to treat female ailments, snake bites, chorea, bronchitis and fever. Its use for symptoms associated with menstrual irregularities and menopause is now backed by modern research. It is found that Black Cohosh is an anti-inflammatory and that it enhances the natural production of estrogen in women. Black Cohosh is projected to become one of the most important medicinal plants in the near future as the "Baby Boom" generation reaches an age when natural relief from the symptoms of menopause is sought.   

Goldenseal - Hydrastis Canadensis

Goldenseal has become one of the most popular botanicals in domestic herb markets. Also known as yellow root, Goldenseal is one of the most common companion plants to ginseng. Goldenseal has a thick, yellow rootstock which sends up an erect hairy stem about 1 foot in height which branches near the top, one branch bearing a large leaf and another a smaller leaf and a flower. The leaves have five lobes and when full grown are from 6 to 8 inches in across. The greenish-white flower that appears in April or May, ripens in late summer as a bright red seed pod, resembling a large raspberry, and contains from 20 to 40 small, shiny, black seeds. A perennial like ginseng it grows best on East to Northern facing slopes with some moisture, good drainage and about 75% shade canopy. The Goldenseal plant is native to North America, first used by Cherokee Indians to treat skin wounds, sore throat and colds and for recovery from childbirth. Early settlers learned of the uses for Goldenseal and expanded its use to treat hemorrhoids, pink eye, boils and wounds. Internally they used it to treat colds, tonsillitis, diphtheria, digestive problems and as a general tonic for use during convalescence. Modern herbalists recommend it for the same uses today. Wild Goldenseal "overharvesting" has caused it to be added to the endangered species list. With pressure on the dwindling supply of wild goldenseal, woodland cultivators have found it to be a profitable crop.  

Jack in the Pulpit - Arisaema Triphyllum

Also known as the pitcher plant, this exotic looking plant is usually found in rich, moist, lower woodland areas. Jack in the Pulpit's flower is actually a green spathe that surrounds and shelters it's flower spike. It reaches one to two feet tall by mid-spring, but this plant becomes most visible in early autumn, when its cluster of scarlet red berries appears. The berry pods resemble ginseng berries and is often mistaken for ginseng at first glance. Native Americans used the dried root for colds, coughs, asthma, laryngitis and to build blood. Externally the dried root was poulticed for rheumatism, boils and swelling from snakebites.
Warning: Fresh plant contains intensely irritating agents and is considered poisonous if consumed.  

Mayapple - Podophyllum Peltatum

American Mayapple is an early spring plant that sports a single waxy white flower that droops between the twin leaves. The pair of roughly circular leaves have 3 - 7 sharp lobes and are about 6 - 8 inches wide when fully extended. It is a common perennial found in lush, Eastern hardwood forests and along wood margins. In late summer it produces a small green fruit resembling a green apple and used to produce "Mayapple Wine". Mayapple root is Poisonous however, it is used to produce ointments to treat venereal warts and is found to be a source of ant-cancer components which are extracted for use in chemotherapy, and in treatment of small cell lung cancer.   

Ginseng & Medicinal Herb Products Order Form

Nursery Stock Order Form